Like conflict itself, ADR is a communicative exercise. Learn about practical and effective methods to help you communicate in even the most bitter of conflicts.

Parties must understand one another. This vibrant multimedia collection explores barriers to that understanding (unpopular language choice, personality styles, perceptions of blame, etc.) and offers techniques to overcome them. This is a must for all serious students of mediation.

NOTEWORTHY

We can define communication, as Krauss and Morsella do, as the transfer of information. In this context communication channels can be understood simply as the modes or pathways through which two parties might communicate. As population grows and technology evolves accordingly, these channels of communication change as well.

Terrorism has erupted as a predominant destructive conflict element; and in turn, a compulsory factor to address in peacebuilding. States operate within divergent paradigms on including terrorist organizations in peace negotiations, agreements, and post-conflict governance. On one hand terrorism is regarded as illegitimate means to air legitimate grievances within an asymmetrical power structure, and democracy is enhanced by integrating the demands.

On June 15, 2010 the peoples of Manitoba, Canada will gather together at the Forks. A traditional Aboriginal gathering space at the point of convergence of two rivers, the Forks is now in the centre of Winnipeg, one of Canada's cities with the highest Aboriginal population. There, those who experienced the Indian Residential School system either as students or workers will break the silence by participating in the first national event of Canada's Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Communication breakdown often leads to the doorway of anger, resentment, hostility, and the filing of a lawsuit. Often this doorway leads a prospective client to a member of the local bar. They sit down and together they discuss the merits of a potential lawsuit.

In an exclusive preview of his book The Stuff of Thought, Steven Pinker looks at language and how it expresses what goes on in our minds — and how the words we choose communicate much more than we realize.

The best way to build rapport is to have a face to face meeting. There is no substitute. Indeed, without such inter personal contact, the subtle cues that are used by us to build rapport cannot be gleaned. One cannot pick up a furrowed brow or a grimace in an e-mail. It is hard to build up trust with someone you have never met by phone or in person, but only via e-mail.

We live in an increasingly touchy-feely society where we give respect and regard to the therapist, the counselor, and professionals generally whose purpose and process is geared towards the individual’s needs. It’s not surprising that as society has evolved, and our basic needs are met (e.g. food, shelter, safety), we strive to find belonging, build self-esteem, and achieve self-actualization … Yet, somehow, when it comes to solving legal disputes, these tenets or values are significantly underappreciated or, worse, overlooked and discarded entirely.

Hostile mail – especially email – has become much more common over the past decade. Most of this mail is just “venting,” and has little real significance. However, when people are involved in a formal conflict there may be more frequent and intensely hostile mail. There may be more people involved and it may become legally significant. You would be amazed at the embarrassing hostile emails that show up in court cases these days. Therefore, how you handle hostile mail may impact the future of long-term relationships and the outcome of a case.

Don’t make people pay for music, says Amanda Palmer: Let them. In a passionate talk that begins in her days as a street performer (drop a dollar in the hat for the Eight-Foot Bride!), she examines the new relationship between artist and fan.

How do you feel about buzzwords? Jargon? “Estate Agentese”? Roy Greenslade at the Guardian says that journalists, at least, are “often amused, sometimes irritated and even occasionally enraged by the attempts to engage their attention by PR outfits” using spectacularly creative turns of phrase.

Living and working in a diverse culture has its challenges. It gives us ample opportunity to work, interact, and live with people who speak very little English or none at all. This presents many challenges for mediators trying to communicate effectively with non-English speaking clients during mediation.

When most well-intentioned aid workers hear of a problem they think they can fix, they go to work. This, Ernesto Sirolli suggests, is naïve. In this funny and impassioned talk, he proposes that the first step is to listen to the people you’re trying to help, and tap into their own entrepreneurial spirit. His advice on what works will help any entrepreneur.

Shame is an unspoken epidemic, the secret behind many forms of broken behavior. Brené Brown, whose earlier talk on vulnerability became a viral hit, explores what can happen when people confront their shame head-on. Her own humor, humanity and vulnerability shine through every word.

Body language affects how others see us, but it may also change how we see ourselves. Social psychologist Amy Cuddy shows how “power posing” — standing in a posture of confidence, even when we don’t feel confident — can affect testosterone and cortisol levels in the brain, and might even have an impact on our chances for success.

In a culture where being social and outgoing are prized above all else, it can be difficult, even shameful, to be an introvert. But, as Susan Cain argues in this passionate talk, introverts bring extraordinary talents and abilities to the world, and should be encouraged and celebrated.

In politics, it seems counterintuitive to engage in dialogue with violent groups, with radicals and terrorists, and with the states that support them. But Jonas Gahr Støre, the foreign minister of Norway, makes a compelling case for open discussion, even when values diverge, in an attempt to build greater security for all.

Remember when you were a kid and your mom forced you to ask a group of the “cool kids” to play? Close your eyes… you remember. As you walked toward the cool kids, your mouth felt dry. Your palms got sweaty. Your heart felt like it was going to burst from your chest and your breath came in short gulps. You approached the kids and finally gathered the courage to ask in an awkward croak, “Can I play?”

With both feet planted firmly on the ground is how I like to do most things these days. I am practicing being in my body. This way, I am able to stay connected, supported, and deliberate. It also lets me be present to any signals that my body is receiving thereby giving me better access to my intuition. Grounding, in short, is the anchor in the storm.

In her Two Minute Training Tip for November 1, 2011, my colleague, Maria Simpson, Ph.D. looks at the words we use when we communicate. She points out that to be an effective negotiator – one must be careful of the pronouns she uses. “You” in any form – “you”, “your” – is accusatory and personalizes the comment; for example; you will not get off to a good start in your negotiations, by beginning your sentence with “you”.

Empathic listening (also called active listening or reflective listening) is a way of listening and responding to another person that improves mutual understanding and trust. It is an essential skill for third parties and disputants alike, as it enables the listener to receive and accurately interpret the speaker’s message, and then provide an appropriate response. The response is an integral part of the listening process and can be critical to the success of a negotiation or mediation.